IV Infiltration Injuries to Children and Infants

Children and Infants IV Infiltration Negligence

An IV infiltration or extravasation injury to a child during their hospitalization can inflict profound emotional and physical trauma on both the child and their family. The vulnerability of children, particularly infants, coupled with the trust placed in medical professionals to provide competent and compassionate care, amplifies the devastation experienced when medical errors occur. Parents entrust their precious children to the expertise of healthcare providers with the expectation that every precaution will be diligently observed to safeguard their well-being. However, when medical injuries befall children, the consequences can be dire, with potentially severe and even fatal outcomes. The toll of such incidents extends far beyond the immediate physical harm, often causing enduring psychological distress and disrupting the fabric of family life.

If you suspect that your infant has suffered harm due to medical negligence, it is crucial to take decisive action to protect their rights and seek justice. By consulting with a reputable legal firm like Burnside Law Firm LLP, you can gain invaluable insight into your child’s legal rights and explore avenues for pursuing compensation and accountability. Our dedicated team of attorneys specializes in advocating for the rights of children and their families, offering compassionate support and expert guidance throughout the legal process. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for assistance in navigating the complexities of medical malpractice claims and securing the redress your child deserves.

Burnside Law Firm LLP offers legal advice concerning IV infiltration injury and IV therapy injury cases. Call (706) 432-8320 or contact us by e-mail for an initial investigation of your case.

IV Infiltration Standard of Care

When it comes to IV therapy, hospitals and medical professionals have a duty to follow certain standards of care to protect patients, especially infants, from IV infiltration and extravasation injuries. These standards of care include:

• Following proper procedures for IV placement
• Following proper procedures for IV insertion
• Frequent monitoring and assessment of IV site
• Apply transparent dressing over IV site
• Proper securing of IV catheter to extremity
• Diligence in checking IV site for coolness, swelling, or color change
• Ensure proper function (infusion or flow) of IV fluids
• Checking for signs of infiltration

Case example: A 9-month-old infant was admitted to the hospital with congestion and flu-like symptoms, and an intravenous line was placed in her hand. Twelve hours later, her left hand and forearm were swollen with edema, and she was unable to move her fingers and hand due to pain. She was diagnosed with compartment syndrome and ultimately required skin grafting on her hand and a fasciotomy incision from her wrist to her elbow to restore adequate blood flow and avoid amputation. The injury was due to the duty nurse’s failure to assess the IV site over an 8-12 hour period. If the nurse had followed the standard of care and provided hourly assessments of pediatric IV sites, these injuries would have been prevented entirely.

IV Infiltration and Infant IV Burns

IV infiltration and extravasation injuries to children can be more severe and harder to detect than injuries to adults. Children are not as alert to problems and cannot express pain or irritation the same as adults. Often, they cry because the IV hurts, but the medical staff attributes their crying to something else and fails to check the IV site. As a result, IV infiltration or extravasation can go undetected for a longer period of time if a timely assessment of the IV site is not performed. The longer harmful fluids are allowed to infiltrate the tissues surrounding the IV site rather than the bloodstream, the worse the injury can become.

Pediatric hospitals, neonatal care units and other medical facilities measure the severity of IV infiltration injuries on a common scale of 0 to 4.

• 0 = No symptoms
• 1 = Skin blanched, edema < 1 inch in any direction, cool to touch, with or without pain
• 2 = Skin blanched, edema 1 to 6 inches in any direction, cool to touch, with or without pain
• 3 = Skin blanched, translucent; gross edema > 6 inches in any direction; cool to touch; mild to moderate pain; possible numbness
• 4 = Skin blanched, translucent; skin tight, leaking; skin discolored, bruised, swollen; gross edema > 6 inches in any direction; deep pitting tissue edema; circulatory impairment; moderate to severe pain; infiltration of any amount of blood product, irritant or vesicant

Scale 4 infiltration injuries are the most severe and can result in severe burns, skin grafts, nerve damage, long-term scarring, disability and even loss of the affected limb.

Do You Suspect IV Negligence?

For individuals without a background in medical training or experience, navigating the complexities surrounding an IV infiltration injury can be an overwhelming and daunting task. Assessing the quality of care provided and discerning whether there has been a breach of the standard of care demands a nuanced understanding of medical procedures and protocols. Our team of experienced attorneys at Burnside Law Firm recognizes the challenges inherent in such situations and stands ready to provide comprehensive support and guidance. Leveraging our legal experience and familiarity with medical terminology, we meticulously review the available evidence and medical documentation pertaining to your case.

We consult thoroughly with witnesses and expert witnesses, including healthcare professionals, to gain insights into the injury’s circumstances and evaluate the standard of care provided. Drawing upon our medico-legal knowledge and extensive experience handling medical malpractice claims, we strive to ascertain whether you have a viable cause of action against the negligent parties involved, whether doctors, nurses or the hospital itself. Throughout the process, our attorneys remain committed to offering clear and transparent guidance, empowering you with the information needed to decide the best course of action. We prioritize your rights and interests, advocating tirelessly on your behalf to secure the justice and compensation you deserve in the aftermath of an IV infiltration injury.

If you suspect medical negligence, do not hesitate to contact our Athens or Augusta, Georgia, legal team. Our lawyers offer experienced, strategic advocacy in cases involving IV infiltration injury and IV extravasation injury to children. Call 800-(706) 432-8320 or contact us by e-mail for an initial consultation.